Mastering the American Psychological Association’s standards is essential for anyone engaged in scholarly writing within the social sciences. The APA 7 format provides a consistent framework that ensures clarity, credibility, and professionalism in presenting research. This guide walks through the fundamental rules for structuring your document, from margins and fonts to the specific requirements for in-text citations and the reference list.
Setting Up Your Document
Before you begin writing the substance of your paper, you must configure the page layout to meet APA 7 specifications. These foundational settings create a clean, readable foundation for your work.
Set 1-inch margins on all sides of the page.
Use a standard, readable font such as Times New Roman, size 12 pt.
Apply double-spacing throughout the entire document, including quotes, references, and block quotes.
Include a page number in the top right corner of every page.
Add a running head on the title page only, which is a shortened version of the title in all capital letters.
Structuring the Main Sections
An APA 7 paper is typically organized into specific sections that guide the reader through your research logically. Understanding the order and purpose of each part is crucial for a professional presentation.
Title Page
The title page is the first impression of your work and must include the paper title, author name, and institutional affiliation. For student papers, the running head is optional, but for professional manuscripts, it is required. The title should be concise, descriptive, and centered on the page.
Main Body and Abstract
The main body is where you present your arguments, methods, and findings. For professional papers, an abstract of 150 to 250 words appears on a separate page immediately after the title page. The abstract summarizes the key points of your research without introducing new information. The main body then follows, typically divided into sections such as Introduction, Method, Results, and Discussion.
Citing Sources In-Text
In-text citations are the mechanism by which you acknowledge the ideas of others and avoid plagiarism. The APA system relies on the author-date method, which requires the author's last name and the year of publication.
For a direct quote, include the page number: (Smith, 2020, p. 45).
For paraphrased information, the page number is optional: (Smith, 2020).
If you mention the author's name in the sentence, only include the year in parentheses: Smith (2020) argues that...
For sources with three or more authors, use the first author's name followed by "et al.": (Jones et al., 2019).
Formatting Tables and Figures
Visual elements such as tables and figures should enhance the reader's understanding of your data. In APA 7, these elements are treated as distinct parts of the document that require specific formatting.
Number tables and figures consecutively (e.g., Table 1, Figure 2).
Provide a clear, concise title for each element placed above the table or figure.
Ensure the text is large enough to read easily if the document is shrunk.
Place each table or figure as close as possible to the first reference to it in the text.
Constructing the Reference List
The reference list appears at the end of the paper and provides full details for every source cited in the text. Accuracy is paramount here, as this section allows readers to locate your sources independently.
